Wednesday, June 28, 2017

99 Things That I Learned From Junior Year

Junior year. The wonderful whirlwind of crazy. I didn't know what to expect going into junior year, but it was one of the best. I have so many beautiful memories from this year, memories I would love to live again. It definitely wasn't an easy year, but oh, am I thankful for it.

Last year, I wrote a post about 99 things that I learned from my sophomore year. It was a lot of fun to look back over the year and think through the different things that I'd experienced and learned. Despite the fact that it's a bit late, I really wanted to do the same for junior year. I really enjoy both writing and reading these kind of posts, so hopefully you like them as well!

-----

1. College classes actually aren't terrifying. (Sometimes they're actually easier than high school classes!)
2. There is no better feeling than finishing the SAT.
3. Gifts from God will pop up in the most unlikely places.
4. Sometimes, you're gonna be alone. You'll still get by.
5. People change. Yes, it sucks. Yes, it's a part of life.
6. There is no joy in life greater than glitter.
7. Nothing will go like you expect it to. Get used to that.
8. Coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee. Drink the coffee.
9. If you know that there's a 90% chance you're going to have a crappy day, put in a little more effort to look nice. Wear your favorite dress and those cute bootie heels. Wing that liner. You'll feel a little more confident.
10. Do the extra credit.
11. People are going to hurt you, but sometimes you can't give up on them just yet.
12. It is possible to go from seeing someone three times a week to once a month and still have the same relationship. Those are the people you hold on to.
13. Listen listen listen listen listen. You may not be able to fix a situation, but you can listen and you can love.
14. Hang on to every second. Savor it. Hold it tight. It'll be gone before you know it.
15. Spotify will save your sanity.
16. Write everything down. I mean everything. You'll be so glad later.
17. Make time to read your Bible. It'll give you a sliver of peace in the storm.
18. Keep a list of funny things that the people you love say. It will make you smile later.
19. Drink water. Even when you don't think you're thirsty, drink something anyways. Take a vitamin while you're at it- it'll boost your immune system.
20. Exercise. You will feel so much better.
21. Make the people around you feel loved. It's not hard. Remember their birthdays. Bring them coffee/food. Text them encouragement. Even just scribbling a two-sentence note can be enough to make someone's day.
22. There is no greater gift than friendships that never waver.
23. If you have to have a really stressful conversation, do it while walking. You'll get some of your frustration out.
24. Find that thing that makes you feel alive.
25. Worship music can get you through anything.
26. Sometimes you just have to MAKE time.
27. Likewise, prioritizing is literally the most important thing wow.
28. Jesus is enough.
29. Use your freaking planner.
30. Dust settles. You don't.
31. If your camera roll isn't filled with sunset photos, are you actually living your life? I think not.
32. Stretchhhhhhh. Even if it's just for five minutes.
33. Keep creating, even when you feel like you can't. Just try. It may not be very good, but you can make it better later. Just try.
34. Go to prom. It's not the perfect dream night that everyone claims it is, but it's fun. You're only in high school once, experience things while you can.
35. Honestly, no one cares what you look like. If you don't feel like wearing makeup, don't. If you just want to throw your hair into a messy bun, do it. Everybody's tired. You don't have to look perfect 24/7.
36. Life is weird. Sometimes there's nothing that you can do but laugh at it.
37. If you have to get something done, set your phone face down. It's easier.
38. Write down everything you're thinking. It'll be fun to look back and see where your mind was.
39. Get enough sleep.
40. With that being said, every now and then, you'll find yourself blearily talking on the phone at midnight when you have to get up at eight the next morning, and it's totally worth it.
41. Work your absolute hardest for what you want. Don't leave yourself wondering if you could have done more.
42. The things you complain about now will be the things that you'll miss later.
43. That thing you've been dreaming of? It'll come. Just wait.
44. You are not a machine and that's okay.
45. A bad teacher can literally make you loathe your favorite subject.
46. Very few things in life are ACTUALLY worth being nervous over.
47. Just because one teacher gives you a terrible grade doesn't mean you're bad at the subject.
48. Some weeks you just have to live in leggings.
49. Sarcastic t-shirts make the world more enjoyable.
50. Suck it up, buttercup.
51. The most spontaneous days make for the best memories.
52. Attempting to figure out college stuff is the most miserable process. Just try to get it done as quickly and painlessly as possible. I'm still working on that.
53. Some colleges will bribe you with cookies. I'm a big fan of this method.
54. SAT prep will never be fun. Get it over with and rejoice when you're done.
55. Staying caught up on your social media feed is so not worth it.
56. False eyelashes are evil, but not impossible. Although if you have to wear them for a show, just start praying now.
57. Sometimes you'll have an experience that's everything you could have dreamed and more.
58. Every tech week is going to have one completely awful day. It doesn't mean the show is horrible.
59. Snail mail is literally the fastest way to my heart.
60. If ponytails give you a headache, wear two dutch braids. Super simple and cute, and gets your hair out of your face.
61. Doing NaNoWriMo is a fantastic decision.
62. You can do more than you think you can.
63. At the same time, though, you can't do everything and that's okay.
64. Make time to read.
65. Sunsets are worth chasing.
66. It's okay to suck at something. You can still enjoy it.
67. Sometimes you have to shove all of your OCD thoughts to the back of your brain and just be spontaneous.
68. There's no better feeling than someone reading your writing and saying "oh my gosh I hate you" because of the character you killed. I realize this probably sounds psychotic but it's true.
69. Never doubt the awesomeness of internet friends.
70. Anastasia should have won a Tony award and I will forever be bitter about this.
71. All Broadway shows should be filmed and made available. The digital download of Newsies is the most beautiful thing on the planet.
72. When in need of motivation, listen to Legally Blonde.
73. If a new Ed Sheeran album comes out, just expect there to be at least one song that will make you bawl. Most likely a very innocently named song. Freaking Supermarket Flowers you kill me.
74. If you have to stare at a screen for too long you will most likely lose your mind.
75. Do one thing that makes you happy every day, no matter how small.
76. Listening to musical theatre songs on shuffle will cause you to go from dancing around the room to breaking your heart in approximately .3 seconds.
77. School will drive you to living off of tortilla chips and coffee.
78. Snow days are life's biggest blessing.
79. Goodreads will make your reading life 169726x better.
80. Gummi bears are the best form of motivation.
81. 7:30 a.m. exams are the world's greatest evil.
82. ^Which is closely followed by reversing a car.
83. Sometimes you just have to take a nap at 8 pm.
84. Bagels never cease to make the world a better place.
85. Apparently it's normal for killer clowns to roam the streets for a month and a half. Yay America.
86. Some people you're just never going to get along with.
87. Keep a notebook in your backpack that you use to write down all the random things that pop in your head when you're sitting at school before class doing nothing. It's time you can use.
88. Give yourself breaks. Read a book. Go for a walk. Save your sanity.
89. People are just weird. Avoid their drama.
90. Even though staying home is 2792837329x easier and less stressful, doing random, slightly crazy things will leave you with the best memories.
91. Start graduation gifts early. Like, in August.
92. Find a way to spend your life doing what you love.
93. There is no better feeling than watching your friends do awesome things.
94. When life is completely crazy and random, give yourself as many routines as possible, however small. They'll keep you steady.
95. Mastering the art of doing a full face of makeup in under seven minutes is a great life skill to have.
96. Some people are going to think you're crazy when you tell them what you want to do with your life. Ignore them. They're not worth it.
97. Circumstances are what you make of them.
98. Waffles will forever be the best breakfast food.
99. Remember to enjoy this crazy thing called life.

-----

So, can you relate to anything on this list? What did you learn this year?

I feel this post so much tho...I'm transferring as a Junior in college, but this is still so relateable... Uggg college applications and such stuffs have been the bane of my entire existence this past semester. (Yay being almost completely done with paperwork. Almost.) And #76 looking at you Hamilton... This post was epic, just sayin ;P

SARCASTIC T-SHIRTS. I have this one shirt I bought which completely describes everyone's feelings about Mondays, and since school this year is starting on a Monday (WHY NEW SUPERINTENDENT WHY) I'm wearing it as a way to slightly protest. Also, I'm not ready for killer clowns to come back... ever heard of the book called It by Stephen King? Well, it's getting a movie adaptation coming around the time of Halloween, and that's just great. -_-

Aww, Grace. I loved this so much. You're rocking this thing called life. Also, I can totally relate to the false eyelashes... I had to wear them today... Let's just say this hot mess needed A LOT OF JESUS and coffee.

Yes yes yes yes! I relate to so many of these. And they remind me of my fondest (and most terrible) memories of junior year. The full face of makeup in 7 minutes is something I learned more recently though. I can go from rolling out of bed to completely ready for any kind of day in less than an hour now. It's suh-weet!

Aww I love this post so much!! It's so funny but heartfelt. I don't like Ed Sheeran, but I LOVE Supermarket Flowers, haha. Totally agree about Anastasia. My camera roll is filled with sunset pics too! And yes--Jesus is always enough.

Gosh, nevermind junior year, this is a guidebook for LIFE. <3 Seriously, I relate to this post too much...Spotify is an absolute saviour these days. Junior and senior years are getting pretty difficult and it's so nice to have good music to help you focus. One thing on your list I wish I had was SAT prep. I'm from Australia but I love, love the US so I actually took the SAT in May. :') Could've used some official prep, though!

THIS IS LIKE SUPER GREAT AND ALSO WISE. Like sleep and exercise and take care of oneself amongst all the stress? Duuude, this is golden advice. And so easy to forget to do unfortunately. (Also I didn't even know about Ed Sheeran's new songs haha, so here I am...listening nervously to the Flowermarket song :P Wish me luck.😂)

It's crazy how easy it is to forget to do the most important, simple things! XD Good luck with the lovely flowermarket song ;) Although I'm sure a fabulous vulcan queen such as yourself shall not bat an eye. LOTS OF LOVE MY FABULOUS EVIL QUEEN!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh this is AMAZINGGGNESSS!!although they're all my personal favorites (because everything you write is my personal favorite) these sparkled particularly brightly:"use your freaking planner""Jesus is enough""Mastering the art of doing a full face of makeup in under seven minutes is a great life skill to have"happy summer fellow SENIOR!!!